POSITION SUMMARY

The Animal Trainer Apprentice is an integral member of the animal care team responsible for providing support to animal trainers while gaining knowledge and proficiency in all areas of animal training and care. Reporting to the Assistant Curator of Marine Animals, this position will observe, assist, and acquire second-hand experience. Trainer apprentices do not directly interact with animals unless and until direction and approval is given by management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Animal Care, Welfare & Husbandry Leadership Assists in daily operations for assigned marine animal areas, ensuring exceptional standards of animal welfare, husbandry, behavioral care, enrichment, training, habitat maintenance, diets, recordkeeping, and staff safety. Recognize and report animal health concerns. Assist in the maintenance of operational readiness of assigned animal areas, including animal-care equipment, training tools, transport equipment, supplies, food handling, and habitat support needs. Perform apprentice-level duties for the care and training of each animal Responsible for proper food preparation, sanitation, and distribution. Administers safe and appropriate feeding. Acquire knowledge of basic training and vocabulary. Acquire knowledge of proper animal husbandry. Be able to identify each animal by name. Acquire a firm knowledge of each animal's history. Acquire experience in safe and proper handling, restraint, and transportation of animals. Acquire experience with public contact by narrating shows /presentations and speaking in front of an audience. Performs other duties as assigned. Animal Training & Behavioral Program Management Observe training practices, recognizing professional standards, approved departmental methodologies, and humane behavior-modification techniques. Proficiently understand and, when operationally necessary, perform the essential functions expected at Trainer Apprentice level. Collection, Exhibit & Project Development Assist in the maintenance of assigned exhibit, habitat, show, and animal-care improvement projects. Regulatory Compliance, Safety & Documentation Follow all departmental policies, standard operating procedures, safety protocols, animal-care procedures, and show procedures. Participate as directed in emergency response, animal escape/incident response, severe weather preparation, and other assigned risk-management activities. Research, Conservation & Organizational Support Support conservation, research, and education initiatives that advance Sea Life Park's mission and strengthen credible conservation messaging to guests. Participate in implementation of approved research projects affecting assigned animals or areas.

EXPECTATIONS

Maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, animal welfare, safety, conservation, and guest service.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

(KPIs) Animal Welfare & Care Completion and quality of daily husbandry, enrichment, training, diet, health-monitoring, and recordkeeping requirements. Timely execution of veterinary directives. Shows, Presentations & Guest Experience Show readiness, on-time performance, consistency, presentation quality, and operational reliability. Guest feedback and educational/conservation-message quality for assigned animal experiences. Safety & Compliance Reduction of preventable safety incidents and adherence to dive, animal, trainer, and guest safety protocols. Operational Excellence Daily readiness of assigned animal areas, equipment, habitats, and presentation spaces. Timely resolution of maintenance, staffing, animal-care, and operational issues.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

High School Diploma or equivalent.

Preferred:

College degree in related field preferred but not required. Some experience is preferred (

Example:

former Animal care and training internship(s), animal care volunteering in zoos or aquariums, seasonal or past full-time work within the animal care or training field) Experience with aquatic animal care, life support systems, water quality, and SCUBA operations appropriate to assigned areas.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires regular on-site presence and a combination of office, animal-area, aquatic, exhibit, backstage, and guest-facing work. The role may require evenings, weekends, holidays, special events, and emergency response based on operational and animal-care needs. Regular work around marine animals, habitats, life support systems, water, dive operations, moderate noise, varying weather conditions, and safety hazards inherent to zoological operations. Ability to lift and carry up to 60 pounds and perform physically demanding tasks, including diving and habitat support, as required. Extensive walking, standing, bending, climbing, and movement throughout animal-care and guest areas. Must be able to respond calmly and effectively to animal, staff, guest, weather, and operational emergencies while on duty.

Pay:

$17.00 - $18.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person